Improved extension-table



,gisten prima JHN M. BLAISDELL, OF SANBORNTN, NEW HAMPSHIRE. Lem-Ts Pam: No. 89,266, ma Apr/z 2o, 1869.

IMPROVED EXTENSION-TABLE.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the sama.

To all whom it may concern:

. Be it known that I, JOHN M. BLAIsnELL, of Sanbornton, in the county of Belknap, and State of New Hampshire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Extension-Tables; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 represents a vertical longitudinal section of the table, showing the detachable leaves folded and enclosed within a central chamber.

Figure 2 represents a similar section, the table being extended and the detachable leaves in place.

Figure 3 represents a transverse section of the table, the parts occupying the same position as in g. 1.

Figure 4 represents a similar' section to tig. 3,' the parts occupying the same position as in flg. 2, and showing more particularly the hinged supports, upon which the central detachable leaf rests when in place.

Figure 5 represents a plan or top view of the table when extended, showing the leaves folded in their receptacle, and one end of the table in section, to exhibit the dovetail slides to which the extension cross-bars are hinged.

Figure 6 represents a view in perspective of one of the detachable leaves folded.

v Figure 7 represents a portion of the ends ofthe detachable leaves inverted, to show their connection with one another and the table by the spring-catches.

My improvements relate to the construction of the chamber for the reception of the detachable leaves; to the manner of folding and securing the -leaves within the chamber; to hinged supports serving the double purpose of ends to the chamber and supports for the central detachable leaf when the table is extended; to hinging the detachable leaves, to enable them to be folded and unfolded; to the manner of connecting the extension cross-frames to the. frame of the table; to the application to the ends of the detachable leaves, and to the ends/ of the -table proper, of spring hooks, for the purpose of locking the leaves together, and to the table, to prevent the latter from spreading; and, finally, in the application to the central support of an extension-table, of ayielding foot or section.

.In the accompanying drawings- A represents the frame of an extension-table, secured to the ordinary supporting-legs.

The side-pieces A of this frame are divided in th `middle of their' length, and this frame, with the fixed grooved rails D, and these rails are located and arranged so as toleave a sutiicient space to admit three other rails between them, the middle ones, E, of which are fixed to the bottom of a chamber, F, occupying a position across the table immediately beneath the leaves, and centrally with regard to the sections of the table.

The two other rails G, are arranged between the outer and inner rails O D, and the rails E are fixed to the central chamber, and are tongued and grooved, so as to slide freely in either direction, as the table is closed or extended.

These rails constitute what is known as the extension-slides.

The sides A of the table-frame being divided, and the chamber for the reception of the detachable leaves placed across the centre, form the link that connects the two sections of the table, by means of the extension-slides.

The chamber is fixed in its transverse position, but is movable with said extensions1ides,'so that its position varies longitudinally in opening and closing the table, and thus prevents the binding ofthe parts.

This chamber F consists of two vertical transverse boards, F, having a space between them of a width sufficient to receive the detachable leaves, and are of a length less than the space between the sides A of the table-frame, for the purpose of allowing the said frame to enclose the said chamber when the two sections of the table are brought together.

The bottom of this chamber is formed by the tops of the extension slides, and the ends by two hinged pieces F", which also serve the purpose of supportsto the central leaf when the table is extended.

The hinged supports F are flush with the tops of i the side-pieces F ofthe chamber-and the central detachable leaf K rests firmly at either end thereon.

These hinged supports, however, do not extend to the bottom of the chamber, but a suiiicient space is left between them to allow the hinged folded, ends of the detachable leaf K" to lie on the :bottom of the chamber, and beneath these supports.

The object of hinging the supporting cross-bars F is Vto allow them to be folded parallel tothe sides of the chamber, for the purpose of admitting the lowest and longest of the nest of detachable leaves to be placed in the chamber.

The shortest folded leaves occupy the place-in the chamber between these hinged supports, and the latter are fitted with bolts to secure them to the- 44side of the chamber, when placed to support the central detachable leaf, and form the ends of the chamber.

The extension-frames, for uniting the two sections of the table, consist severally of two bars, H, arranged inthe form of an X, and connected at-their junction, by a vertical bolt, h., forming a central hinge, their ends being united, by means of hinges,.te slides I, fitted 1nto dovetail grooves in the sides F of the chamber, and the ends A of the table-frame.

The slides thus fitted in their dovetail grooves have a sufficient amount of play to insure the extending and folding of the bars H, without binding their hinges, and render the connection of the parts more durable, while, at the same time, forming a permanent connec` tion ofthe sections of the table with the sides F of the central chamber.

The upper ends of the bolts h, which constitute the hinges or pivots of the extension cross-bars, may be fitted to move longitudinally with the folding and extending of said cross-bars, and thus preventl them from moving transversely, at the same time serving as a fixed centre to the movement of the dovetail slides to which the cross-bars are hinged.

The chamber F has a central support, J, which serves to relieve the extension-slides, of the weight of the chamber-frame, and, in order to compensate for any inequality of the door, the said support is provided with ayielding section or foot, J made by fitting a cylindrical stem within a corresponding opening, or socket in the leg, and resting upon a coiled spring, so maintaining the frame of the chamber at its proper level, irrespectiveof any inequality of the door upon which the table rests.

rIhe detachable leaves K K' of the table are made of two equal parts, united together by hinges k, for the purpose of enabling them to befolded when in their place in the chamber.

In order to accommodate all the detachable leaves in the chamber, one of them, K", instead of being hinged in the middle of its length, has its ends hinged, so that when the said ends are folded, the distance between them would leave a sufiicient space to admit the equally-divided and folded leaves K K', and inthis manner suitable space is obtained in the chamber to accommodate all the leaves when folded, without making the chamber too deep.

I am aware that the detachable leaves have been made in two equal parts and fitted together by dowelpins, when in their place in the table, and separated or drawn apart, and laid one upon anotherin a chamber lengthwise of the table; but this method of uniting the two halves of the leaves .when required for use is inconvenient, forms an unseemly joint, the leaves are liable to work apart, and require a support throughout their length upon some part of the frame.

By my arrangement, the two parts being united by hinges, render the leaves more convenient to handle, preventthem from being separated, and form a smooth joint.

To prevent the two sections of the table from spreading, orbeing pulled apart when not required, I secure a pivoted spring-catch, L, on the under side of one of the fixed leaves B, near either end, while the fixed leaf` of the other section is'provided with a staple, Z, soarranged as that when the two sections are brought together, the hooked end of the spring-catch will pass within and hook into said staples, the hooked catches being of such shape as to render this .action self-aeting, while, in order to draw the sections apart, the ends wise provided, at either end, with pivoted springcatches L, and fixed staples l, which are so arranged as to hook into the sections of the table and with one another, thus forming an attachment for the leaves, so as to prevent the table from spreading, whether all or any of the leaves are used.

The hinged ends of the detachable leaf K-are held up by dowel-pins, fitting into "the adjacent leaves, which renders it as secure, when in place and locked together, as if it were in one piece and Vnot hinged.

I have represented three detachable leaves, .but of course any number required may be used.

The table may be fitted with the usual semicircular end hinged folding leaves.

I am aware that extension-tables have been constructed with chambers for enclosing the detachable leaves; and, therefore, do not claim such chamber irrespective of the particular construction and arrangement before described.

l. The chamber F, for the reception of the detachable folded leaves, formed by the two transverse boards F and the hinged ends F", supported by the extension-slides and the central leg J, and connected to the cross-bars I-I, so as to be enclosed entirely within the table-frame when the latter is closed, substantially as herein described. 2. The upper auxiliary leaves, folded and secured upon the bottom auxiliary folded leaf K", and between the hinged ends F" of the chamber F, in the manner and for the purpose described 3. The ends F" of the'transverse chamber, F hinged for the purpose of serving 'as supports for the central detachable leaf when in place, and to open and close the ends of the chamber, to facilitate the removal of said leaves from and insertion into the chamber F, as described.

4. The xed and detachable table-leaves, provided 

